Monday, June 2, 2014

Please Welcome the Newest Member of our Family

On May 14th at 1:04 p.m. we welcomed our third child, a baby girl, and we are just a bit smitten with her. She was 8 lbs. 3 1/2 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long. Our shortest baby, yet right in the middle for her weight.

She arrived just one day shy of her birth date, but came in a flash surprising us all. Below is her birth story {without many gory details}. Bringing a new little bundle into the world is quite a miracle, so I hope you enjoy.﻿

I had an 8 a.m. doctor's appointment that day and secretly hoped that would be the day. Sensing this, the husband tagged along, as it was his day off anyway. After being checked in, the nurse immediately noticed my blood pressure was a bit high {not something they mess around with during pregnancy, especially when close to your due date}. I had also been suffering from some mild headaches over the past week along with on and off contractions.

After checking me, I was 5 cm dilated {yes, I usually walk around like this will all my pregnancies}. Since being that far along dilated, as well with the high blood pressure, my doctor was not comfortable sending me home and gently ushered us right over to labor and delivery. So different from my other two labors where we always arrived in the middle of the night, tired and delirious.

So off we went to L&D, where they checked us in around 9 a.m. and started the process of inducing my labor. They gave me the choice of breaking my water or putting me on Pitocin to get the contractions started and I choose for them to break my water. If you've ever been on Pitocin, you know it is not that fun and I wanted to try and avoid it if at all possible.

The doctor came in and broke my water around 10:15 a.m. After that I sat in bed for awhile, walked the halls and watched The View on T.V. Nothing too much was happening. Some very mild contractions, but nothing serious.

I remember watching the 11 a.m. news, walking the halls and telling my husband "no, you cannot go home to get my bag". He was sure it would take a while, like my previous labors and we'd be there most of the day. I am so glad he did not leave.

Looking back later that day, I was texting my friend who was watching our other two kids, along with my mom and dad who were picking up the kids soon to relieve my friend shortly after 12:00 p.m. So I must not have been in too much pain?﻿

Around 12:20 p.m. I told my husband I wanted the epidural now. The contractions were suddenly, seriously painful, to the point where I could not talk through them, nor focus on anything else but controlling the pain. We got our nurse in there and according to her records they ordered the epidural at 12:38 p.m.

The anesthiologist came in {very slowly, I might add} and started to prep me for the epidural. I could barely sit on the edge of the bed. By this time, I remember squeezing my nurse's hand so hard I remember thinking I would need to apologize to her later. I also kicked the stool they wanted my feet on across the room, I just could not sit still. And sadly for an epidural you HAVE TO SIT STILL. With my contractions one on top of each other, he just could not attempt it.

And then, I found myself pushing. All women who have birthed a baby know what I'm referring to. Suddenly, I knew she was coming. I could feel every bit of it. My nurse pleaded I roll over so they could check me and when they did she was coming out. Eight painful minutes later and about 4 pushes and she was out.

I literally stretched out my husband's hooded sweatshirt as I was pulling on it so hard, and he claimed I was calling in "coyotes" as I was screaming so loud. Looking back, I know I probably acted and sounded like a maniac, but until you had have a natural labor, you will just not understand.

Those last minutes of labor were pure HELL. I will never say it wasn't, but the joy when she came out, when we heard her cry and when she was laid on my chest, was put JOY. She came out perfect, healthy, and all ours.﻿

Knowing this is 99.9% my last baby, I am trying to take this all in and remember everything. I loved staying in the hospital for those 2.5 days {pampering is great!}. I love that she is comforted by her mama. And I love that our other two little ones are in love with her in more ways than I can imagine.

Has it been hard? Yes. Caring for three kids under the age of 4 is trying, I won't lie about that. The husband has been great, so have our extended families. In fact one set of grandparents took the little kids for a few days this week just to give us a break.

So that is her story! We left the house that morning, clearly not expecting to have a new little one just a few hours later. She is just the BEST.

6 comments:

Oh Ally I love your recipes, but i really enjoyed hearing about the day number 3 was born (sorry I forget her name). I know our mutual friend Sara was laughing about you kicking the stool across the room and pulling on hubby's sweatshirt.. Of course she laughs at everything. I know Sara and Lori will also be discussing this, LOL. Congratulations again for your lil family.